Vietnamese Coast Guard Rescues 18 Fishermen

^{PHOTO: VIETNAMESE COAST GUARD RESCUING FISHERMEN FROM A SINKING BOAT, SOLDIERS EVACUATING PEOPLE, FLOODED STREETS IN DANANG}

INTERNATIONAL: Two fishing boats have been rescued by the Vietnamese Coast Guard in the wake of Tropical storm Conson. The first vessel with five fishermen was rescued 45 kilometers off Lý Sơn Islands after they went adrift from Da Nang. The other boat, with 13 crew aboard, was found 27 kilometres out to sea. All crewmembers were given first aid and tested for Covid-19 before their vessels were brought back to shore. Local authorities have warned that the risk of floods and landslides triggered by Conson remain high, even as the system weakened off the country's central coast. Heavy rain brought by the storm has killed at least one person, damaged dozens of homes and flooded more than 1,000 hectares of rice fields.

Wildfires Hit Spain & California

^{PHOTO: B ROLL OF FIRE FIGHTING PLANES RESPONDING TO THE SO-CALLED ROUTE FIRE, A FRESH WILDFIRE BURNING ALONG THE MAJOR 5 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.}

Emergency services continue to battle flames as devastating wildfires flare up in Spain. The uncontrollable six-day fire could be seen from kilometres away near the town of Pujerra, where many residents have been evacuated. The Prime Minister has deployed the Military Emergency Unit to help tackle the blaze. The fire has torched more than 6,000 hectares. 365 firefighters are on the frontline, supported by 41 aircraft and 25 vehicles.

At the same time, firefighting crews in Southern California are trying to contain a wildfire that broke out in the hills above Los Angeles County near a major freeway. The so-called 'Route Fire' is burning along both sides of the Golden State 5 Freeway. The Angeles National Forest says the fire is zero percent contained. Two firefighters have suffered serious burns. The cause of the fire has not been determined. California's latest bushfire came a day after Governor Gavin Newsom toured communities devastated by the state's raging wildfires. He says the record-breaking fire season should end all debate over climate change.

Vaccine Passport Protests in France

And, protests in France against a new Covid-19 vaccine passport mandate have escalated. The health pass, or a recent negative Covid test, are required to enter cafés, restaurants and many other public places. Protesters claim it amounts to discrimination towards unvaccinated citizens. The interior ministry says over 120-thousand people had gone on the march across France. 19,000 of them in the capital Paris, where police made 85 arrests.